FROM SORROW TO JOY

 

John 16:16-33

Take your bibles and turn to John 16:16-33

We know by experience that most people can endure a trial if they can see the end. The lack of hope though brings the greatest of agonies. Prov 13:12 we read, “Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life.” The longer it seems to go the mind becomes uneasy, the heart sinks and fails because it doesn’t see the end that is suppose bring joy. But when the long expected and desired, comes; there is an accomplishment and desired fulfilled. It is a tree of life; it is most sweet, and satisfactory, and reviving.

How do you think the disciples where doing as they spent

their last evening with Jesus before His coming death?

Not good at all! In Luke’s gospel he explained that the disciples questioned one another, “Who was it?”, and “Who would betray our Lord?” Luke 22:23. And not only that; in the same discussion they argued about who was going to be the greatest amoung them. “And they began to question one another, which of them it could be who was going to do this. A dispute also arose among them, as to which of them was to be regarded as the greatest.” Luke 22:23-24. Also Peter was told by Jesus, that he would deny the Lord, even after saying, ”He would die with Him and go to the end of the earth with Him.” We read in John’s gospel, “Simon Peter said to him, "Lord, where are you going?" Jesus answered him, "Where I am going you cannot follow me now, but you will follow afterward." Peter said to him, "Lord, why can I not follow you now? I will lay down my life for you." Jesus answered, "Will you lay down your life for me? Truly, truly, I say to you, the rooster will not crow till you have denied me three times.” 

John 13:36-38

This was a very unsettled upper room of men. 

At this point the disciples revealed that they were some very scared men; who didn’t know what was going to happen in the coming days. We know that because Jesus said "Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. And you know the way to where I am going." Thomas said to him, "Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?" Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him." Philip said to him, "Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us." Jesus said to him, "Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, 'Show us the Father'? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe on account of the works themselves. "Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.” John 14:1-13

What Jesus says in John 16:20 indicates of future events that the disciples could find encouragement, though they will be sorrowful now. After Jesus accomplished the work of redemption and ascension to Heaven, God would send His Spirit to turn their sorrow into Joy. This joy can only come through His death and His resurrection; it’s the only way for our sorrow to be turned into joy. Jesus uses the analogy of birth to help them understand. (v21) Though it may be painful and sorrowful for a time, the joy fills your heart with hope that takes our eyes of the pain and sorrow. This is what the resurrection accomplished along with our redemption. A peace and joy that the world cannot take away from us.

D. L. Moody, the great evangelist, was dying, his last words were, "Earth is receding, heaven is approaching; this is my crowning day."

D L Moody could say that! Because of the blessed promises found in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The blessed gospel truth of our Lord Jesus Christ. This is the promise that Jesus shares with His friends. Your tears will turn to joy. (v20)

As Robert Peterson said “Jesus’s crucifixion saves, but not apart from his empty tomb. A Savior who remained in the grave would not be a Savior. And Jesus’s resurrection saves, but not apart from his cross. The two are inseparable in God’s plan and should be inseparable in our thinking. What are the two most important of Christ’s redemptive events? His death and resurrection. And we celebrate both of them daily. This sadness the disciples would feel would be a temporary one as the world rejoices over the death of Jesus Christ.

This would all change on the third day when the women went to the tomb to find empty. “But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel. And as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, "Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on the third day rise." And they remembered his words, and returning from the tomb they told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest.” Luke 24:1-9

Our sorrow will be turn to joy! His resurrection and His promise of future things… Testifies to character of a holy God in all His splendour, in all His glory. Seals the promise of His divine providence for redemption. Cries to the world “that all things are under His sovereign control and power.” Displays that His word is truth and His authority and promises will stand forever? Is confirmation that “God says what He means and means what He says” Do You Realize The Entire Trinity Participated In The Resurrection Of Jesus Christ! The Father (Rom 6:4) “...raised by the glory of the Father...” The Spirit (Rom 8:11) “...the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead...” The Son (John 10:48) “I have the power to lay it down, and I have the power to take it again”

  

See the resurrection is vital! Without His physical bodily resurrection we are doomed. There are over Three Hundred References that relate to the Resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ in the New Testament. Therefore it must be considered as a vital element of the faith of a Christian. Paul wrote to Timothy, “Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel” 2 Timothy 2:8. The Resurrection of the Lord is too important to dismiss or neglect.

Understand!

A Christ who is not physically resurrected from the dead is really no Christ at all.

If Jesus was not raised from the dead then Christianity is a false religion. 

If Jesus was not raised from the dead then the message we preach concerning salvation in Christ is false. 

If Jesus was not raised from the dead then there is no forgiveness of sins. 

If Jesus was not raised from the dead then we have no hope of eternal life.

If Jesus was not raised from the dead then in reality we are the most foolish people who have ever lived, for we have built our confidence upon deception. 

If Jesus was not raised from the dead then we might as well live as we please in this world because we are doomed anyway. All this had to happen according to the scriptures! 

1. The Promise Of The Resurrection Was Necessary 

To Complete The Gospel. 

Paul penned this truth to remind the church, “ For if the dead do not rise, then Christ is not risen.  And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile (vain, empty, worthless); you are still in your sins! Then also those who have fallen asleep (death in Christ, Old Testament saints, prophets, believers before the cross, and after) in Christ have perished. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable (miserable).  But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep (those who died). For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead.  For as in Adam all die even so in Christ all shall be made alive (born again believers who put their faith in Him alone).” 1 Cor 15:16-22

If this event never happened or took place then we are still sinners without any hope. And what Jesus said to the disciples would have been of no help to their already frightened and confused hearts. And also! We would be forever lost to a Christ-less eternity. But we know that’s not true because He is Risen according to the scriptures.

2.The Promise Of The Resurrection Is Our 

Hope Of Future Things.

Our deepest sorrows can be turned into joy by reminding ourselves of the promises that Christ has made available for us through the gospel. The miracle of the Cross transforms our sorrow into joy because death is not the end but the beginning of life eternal. What we see here in John 16 and also what Peter would later remind the Christian “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you,” 1 Peter 1:3-4

In First Thessalonians 5:5-11 we read, “For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness. So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, are drunk at night. But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation. For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him. Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.” His death and resurrection is our security and joyful assurance over sin and death. This is everlasting for all eternity promise to you and me, proven through His physical, bodily resurrection.

3. The Promise Of The Resurrection Is 

Our Resurrection Of Eternal Glory.

Paul penned this truth about this eternal glory we will have “Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, "For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered." No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Rom 8:33-39

  

A life of unending fellowship with Him, the eternal blessing of being in His presence and glory for ever. "the love of God", is not meant the saints' love to God; for though this is sometimes called the love of God, it is from Him, as the Author of it. It’s His love, that cannot separate us, from His eternal promises. 

4. The Promise Of The Resurrection Removes 

Any Human Doubt/ Skepticism.

John 20:26-29 we read this “And after eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, "Peace to you!" Then He said to Thomas, "Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing."  And Thomas answered and said to Him, "My Lord (master, my authority) and my God!" (affiriming His deity, position, supremely Divine) Jesus said to him, "Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed." Thomas put your fingers here! Feel, touch, the scares that I endured for you! Remove the doubt and believe in who I said I was “The great I”AM the One who is Risen! The Resurrection and the Life!

  

As the Apostle Paul said His might power “upholding all things by the word of His power” Col 1:17. The universe and everything is constantly sustained by the power of the Son’s words, His voice………..That’s our RISEN King!

So where is our King today?

Because He is not in the grave!

The Lord Jesus Christ is alive and well sitting on the Throne in all His glory. As the Hebrew writer said “He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,” Heb 1:3

He has been given the Name above all names “Lord” (Phil 2:9)

He is King of kings and Lord of lords  (Rev 19:16) 

He has won and crushed Satan, the fulfillment of what was said in the garden by our LORD HIMSELF (Gen 3:15) “her Seed will crush your seed”

We, as His children, can live the 

resurrected life right now!

Because Jesus has conquered sin and death and is seated at the right hand of the Father in all His glory. How important is the resurrection promise? 

The resurrection gives evidence that the Word of God is true and reliable.

The resurrection means that Jesus is the Son of God.

The resurrection means that salvation is complete, Christ conquered Sin.

The resurrection establishes the church “I will build MY church” Jesus said and the “gates of Hell shall not prevail against it” (Matt 16:18).

The resurrection proved that death itself could not prevent Christ from establishing His church.

The resurrection of Christ proves that Heaven is waiting for the true believer.

As Jesus said "Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me.” John 14:1-3

This is a precious and wonderful truth for you and me this morning! A wonderful promise for you and me as we anticipate His wonderful return!

Has your sorrow been turned to joy because of

this wonderful truth found in His resurrection?

Can you imagine what it is going to be like to

be able to see Him in all His glory?

John Piper said “The ultimate good of the gospel is seeing and savouring the beauty and value of God. God’s wrath and our sin obstruct that vision and that pleasure. You can’t see and savor God as supremely satisfying while you are full of rebellion against Him and He is full of wrath against you. The removal of this wrath and this rebellion is what the gospel is for. The ultimate aim of the gospel is the display of God’s glory and the removal of every obstacle to our seeing it and savoring it as our highest treasure. “Behold Your God!” is the most gracious command and the best gift of the gospel. If we do not see Him and savour Him as our greatest fortune, we have not obeyed or believed the gospel."

Charles Spurgeon said “Dear reader, it is possible that you are saying, “I shall never enter into Heaven of God, for I have neither clean hands nor a pure heart.” Look then to Christ, who has already climbed the holy hill. He has entered as the forerunner of those who trust Him. Follow His footsteps, and repose upon His merit. He rides triumphantly into Heaven, and you shall ride there too if you trust Him.”

The ascended Savior is seated on the throne and He is calling out to the hillsides and streets.....for people to come and enter into His rest. Enter into His full grace through the gospel! The One, who is the glorious representation for creation to see and look upon with adoration and praise! Paul wrote “For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.” 2 Cor 5:14-15. Jesus died and rose again to quicken the child of God to newness of life to the honor and glory of His Redeeming grace. The resurrection is a wonderful reminder and promise as we anticipate His wonderful return!

John Calvin said “He alone has full profited in the gospel who has accustomed himself to continual meditation upon the blessed resurrection.”

Can I ask you!

One day we will stand before this King in all His glory?

Does that excite you or scare you?

  

As John Piper says “The highest act of love is the giving of the best gift, and, if necessary, at the greatest cost, to the least deserving. That’s what God did. At the loss of His Son’s life to the totally undeserving, God gave the best gift – the display of the glory of Christ who is the image of God.”

Remember CBC Family our greatest joy is to know Him in His resurrection as Paul said, “That I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead. Phil 3:10-11

Because Paul went on to say eternity is waiting for us, “But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.” Phil 3:20-21

What will that day in eternity be like? One theologian expressed it this way “If we were to empty the Pacific Ocean, the largest body of water in the world, we’d be left with a hole that’s beyond imagination. If we were then to fill that hole with sand and make a pile as high as Mount Everest, we’d be talking about a lot of sand because Mount Everest is the tallest mountain peak in the world. Since the ocean is fairly deep and Mount Everest is fairly high, we’d have a fairly sizable sandpile! Now, if we had a bird that would take one grain of sand from that sandpile every 100 billion years, how long would it take the bird to finish the sandpile? I don’t know that in human language we have such a number. It is probably beyond nu-mer-i-cal count. Whatever that number is, when the bird finishes the last grain of sand, you will have been in eternity your first second.”

Jesus Christ has Risen from the grave and has turned our sorrow into joy Though the pain and sorrow continues, it’s His joy that trumps our pain; all because of the joy of His resurrection and the promise of eternal life

For He is RISEN!